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So I go to SLS and will be taking the California bar. Given that we don't get out of school until mid June and therefore have less time to study, and the fact that I tend to be a slow studier generally, I'm more than a bit concerned about my ability to get a passing score on the first go round. I was chatting with a 3L today about bar prep and he mentioned the possibility of taking the bar in February of 3L year and I must say I find the idea intriguing - assuming I take a light course load in the fall with as many mandatory pass classes as I can find and accept I'm getting all P's it seems feasible...

Pros = more study time; if I don't pass in Feb I can take again in summer without consequence/will have the first attempt knowledge as a foundation for the second go round; 6 weeks off at the end of summer + a potentially 6 week long winter break means lots of truly free study time; knocking the bar out early and having an awesome summer before starting work.

Cons = crappy summer/first half of 3L year; not being able to force myself to take it seriously and failing/creating a huge mental hurdle for the second attempt; possibility of RC-ing classes if the whole "no one RC's" thing turns out to be false...

Thoughts?

Ugh, I wouldn't. You nailed it with the impossible-to-take-it-seriously/mental hurdle thing. Unless you're confident that you are far and away the stupidest kid at SLS, you will be FINE in July. If you're really, really concerned about the study time, take a light load spring semester and get a head start in May maybe, but taking it in February sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

You cannot take the CA BAR until you finish law school and have the JD.
Unless you are qualifying another way... (Judge or Attorney signs for you approach)

A friend and I looked into it too before we graduated.
Here ya go:


Title 4 Admissions and Educational Standards, Division 1.
Admission to Practice Law in California

http://rules.calbar.ca.gov/Rules/Title4 ... dards.aspx

They state:
Rule 4.26 Legal education
General applicants for the California Bar Examination must
(A) have received a juris doctor (J.D.) or bachelor of laws (LL.B) degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association or accredited by the Committee; or
(B) demonstrate that in accordance with these rules and the requirements of Business & Professions Code §6060(e)(2) they have
(1) studied law diligently and in good faith for at least four years in a law school registered with the Committee; in a law office; in a judge's chambers; or by some combination of these methods; or
(2) met the requirements of these rules for legal education in a foreign state or country; and
(C) have passed or established exemption from the First-Year Law Students' Examination.
Rule 4.26 adopted effective September 1, 2008; amended effective July 22, 2011.

Thank you,

Office of Admissions

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I think you can do that in Texas - I'm pretty sure I knew someone who took it before she graduated. You have to be within a small number of credits of graduation (she frontloaded stuff so had few credits left for her last semester).